Machine for forming wire-drawing dies.



No. 824,866. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

J. A. HORTON. MACHINE FOR FORMING WIRE DRAWING DIES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I/V/TN 5555- 2 WW PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

J. A. HORTON. MACHINE FOR FORMING WIRE DRAWING DIES.

2 a m m mi .w MM m w 611W- y. all 2 J/L/ 1 f i H w R APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1905.

UNITED STATES rn'rnn'r oFFioE.

JAMES AIHORTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO IROQUOIS MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPO- RATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR FORMING WIRE-DRAWING DIES.

Patented July 3, 1906.

To a whom, it may concern:

. Be it known that 1, JAMES A. HORTON, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Wire Drawing Dies, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the formation in a block or body of steel or other suitable metal of a tapering or conical orifice, the smaller end of which constitutes the throat or acting portion of a wire-drawing die. The wire to be drawn or reduced is passed through said ori- .fice, the wire on entering the die being of larger diameter than the orifice, and emerging from the die reduced to the exact diameter of the orifice. The friction of the wire against the wall of the orifice, particularly in drawing iron and steel wire, causes a gradual enlargement of the orifice, so that it is necessary to re-form the orifice after the drawing of every coil of wire to restore the orifice to the exact diameter desired. This re-forming operation has heretofore been performed practically as follows: The orifice of the die is-first scraped by a reamer to remove grit and dirt. The face of the die is then hammered to condense the metal, and thus contract the orifice at its smaller end, the orifice being thus partly closed and its symmetry destroyed. The orifice is then swaged to give it the exact circular'form and diameter required by inserting in it a tapered swagingtool or driving-punch and reciprocating said tool until the orifice is sufficiently enlarged and properly formed.

Heretofore the operation of hammering the die to contract the die-orifice has been performed separately from the swaging operation, the two operations being performed by independent means. That is to say, it has been customary to first hammer the die either by hand or by a special hammering machine for the purpose of contracting the die-orifice and then to subject the die to a reciprocating swaging-tool operated either by a hand-controlled hammer or by special. mechanism provided for that purpose, as'shown-in Letters Patent of the United States No. 796,726, granted to me August 8, 1905.

The present invention has for its object, first, to facilitate the operation of remaking the wire-drawing die by performing simultaneously, or practically so, the operations of contracting the die-orifice and of formingthe same to give it a predetermined size and shape. 1

The invention also has for its object to provide improved means for contracting the worn orifice of a wire-drawing die.

To this end the invention consists, first, in an improved machine for remaking wiredrawing dies, comprising means for compressing the metalof the die inwardly toward the die-orifice, and thus contracting the latter, and means operating simultaneously with the said compressing means for enlarging and re-forming thecontracted orifice.

The invention consists, secondly, in an improved die-compressing means adapted to compress the metal of a die wholly in an inward direction toward the die-orifice, said device being capable of use either independently or as an element of a machine which includes a die-forming tool operating within the die-orifice.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3representsapartial vertical section and partial front elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents'a sectionon line 6 f Fig. 1. Fig. 7 represents an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 3.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 12 represents the supporting-frame of'the machine,havingin its upper portion bearings for an operating-shaft 13, from which a reciprocating motion is imparted to the die-forming tool or driving-punch 15, shown in Fig. 7.

16 represents a die-sup ort which is rigidly although preferably acfiustably sustained and is provided with means for compressing the acting portion of a wire-drawing die .17, said means comprising in this embodiment of my invention a cavity 18, formed in the upper surface of the support 16 said cavity having inclined walls constituting a seat piston 23,

. die.

adapted to fit correspondingly-inclined faces 19, formed on the die and surrounding the die-orifice 20. When the die is forced, under extremely heavy pressure, against the diesupport, the seat in the latter will exert inward pressure on the die, thus compressing the metal of the die inwardly toward the dieorifice 20 and contracting the latter sufficiently to compensate for previous wear of said orifice and to enable the forming-tool 15 to act percussively on the orifice and give the latter the desired predetermined size and shape. The two operations of compressing the die to contract the die-orifice and hammering the contracted orifice to impartto it the predetermined form are performed practically simultaneously, the tool 15 being rapidly reciprocated while the compressing pressure is being applied to the die, so that when the pressure is completed the die-orifice has been swaged or hammered to the desired form and size. I

The means here shown for applying the die-compressing pressure comprise a hydraulic press having an inverted cylinder 22, atlixed rigidly to the frame of the machine, a which is movable downwardly in the cylinder by hydraulic pressure introduced into the cylinder above the piston, a diepresser 24, arranged to bear upon the upper surface of the die, and connections between the said presser and piston whereby the downward movement of the piston causes a downward pressure of the presser upon the The said connections, as here; shown, include an extension 25 of the piston 23 and a yoke 26, engaged at one end with the extension 25 and at the other end with the presser 24, as shown in Fig. 3.

27 represents an inlet-pipe for the impelling fluid, and 28 represents the'outlet or exhaust pipe, said pipes connecting with the upper portion of the cylinder and being pro vided with suitable controlling-valves 29.

The supporting-frame 12 is provided with i. suitable guides 30, Fig.6, for the side portions of the yoke 26.

The cylinder 22 is preferably rovided with flanges 31, Fig. 6, which are olted to the supporting-frame.

Means are employed for raising the piston 23 and the presser 24 after their depression by the impellingfluid to permi t the removal of the die from between the presser and the die-support and the insertion of another die between said parts. For this purpose I prefer to employ a stout helical spring 32, located in a recess in the lower portion of the supportingframe and exerting upward pressure on the yoke 26 through a sliding plunger 33.

The die-support 16 is sustained by the fixed cylinder 22, although it may he sustained bv any other fixed support, means being preferably employed for adjusting the die-su ort vertically to determine tance to which the forming-tool 15 will enter the die-orifice, the size imparted to the dieorifice by the tool 15 being determined by the depth of entrance of the tool into the orifice. The preferred adjusting means comprise'a wedge-shaped slide 34, interposed between the head of cylinder 22 and the diesupport, the latter having an inclined bottom surface fitting the correspondingly-inclined top surface of the slide 34, as shown in Fig. 2. The slide 34 is movable endwise by means of a nut 35, rotatively en aged with its outer end and provided wit a handwheel 36, the said nut engaging, a screwthreaded stud37, affixed to the cylinder 23.

38 represents a swinging die-carrier which is pivoted at '39 to the frame of the machine and has a cavity 40, ada ted to receive the die, and a handle 41,- w ereby it may be moved inwardly to locate the die over the die-support and outwardly to withdraw the die from said support. The operator places the die loosely in the cavity 40 when the latter is over the outer portion of the die-su port, so that the latter forms a bottom for t e cavity, preventing the die from dropping through. When the carrier is swung inwardly sufiicientlv to bring the tapered portion of the die into coincidence with the tapered se'at in the die-support, the die drops in the carrier sufliciently to come to a bearing on the tapered seat.

portion or crank 41 engaging a slide-42 in a yoke 43; which yoke is reciprocated by the rotation of the shaft 13 and imparts a reci rocating motion to a rod or stem 44, which is movable in suitable guides in the sup ortingframe and serves as a carrier for the f drmingtool 15,.the latter being inserted in a socket formed for its reception in the lower portion of said carrier.

. It is very important that the downward stroke of the forming-tool be arrested at an exactly redetermined point. To revent any indefin of the downward stroke of the tool, such as would be due to backlash and lost motion in the mechanism which imparts-motion from the operating-shaft to the tool, I provide a stop or abutment 45, rigidly supported by the frame of the machine and adapted to cooperate with a shoulder or enlargement 46, rigidly attached to the rod or'tool-carrier 44', in arresting the downward movement of the tool-carrier. The abutment 45 is adjusted with great nicety, so that the enlargement 46 comes in contact with it when the formingtool has descended to a predetermined position. Means are preferably employed for adjusting the abutment 45, said means comprising a wedge-shaped slide 47, interposed between the abutment and a part of the supthe dis- 6' 5 The operating-shaft '13 has an eccentric iteness or uncertainty in t e limit clutch member 51 is raised automatically out from factors of uncertainty-such as the clasticity of the frame, flexure of moving'parts, and backlash, as well as from the mitlal diameter of the die-orifice prior to the.com-

pressing o eration, it being a fact that some dies are e arged by wear to a greater extent than others. In some cases the die is stopped up onclo ged by material removed from the w1re,'so that the initial diameter of its orifice is less than-when the orifice has been cut out without being clogged or stopped up. The

stop or abutment and the shoulder or mem ber on the die-carrier cooperating therewith compensate for the said factors of uncertainty and insure the enlargement of the die-orifice to a uniform predetermined size by the dieforming movement of the tool in all cases.

The operating-shaft 13 is rovided with a clutch or stop member 50, ig. 4, which 00- operates with a swinging sto or clutch member 51, pivoted at 52 to the ame of the ma chine in arresting rotation of the shaft and the movement of the forming-tool. The

of the path of the clutch member by the descent of the piston 43 through suitable connections, comprising an arm 53, affixed to the yoke 26, a lever 54,pivoted at 55 to the supporting-frame, one end of said lever being connected by a rod 56 with the arm 53, and a rod 57, connecting the other end of the lever 54 with the swinging clutch member 51. The said connecting parts are so arranged that a downward movement of the piston 23 will raise the clutch member 51 and disengage it from the clutch member 50, thus permitting the rotation of the shaft. Wher. the piston is raised by the action of the spring 32, the clutch member 51 is lowered into osition to engage the clutch member 50, an thus stop the rotation of the shaft.

It will be seen that the metal of the die is displaced by the compressing means wholly inwardly toward the die-orifice, the direction of the compressing pressure being inward and approximately horizontal or at right angles with the length of the die-orifice. Here tofore the displacement of, the metal has been effected vertically "or in a direction substantially parallel with the length of the die-orifice by' a hammer applied to the face of the die, the result being an outward as well as an inward displacement of the metal. The outward displacement of the metal gives no useful result and is, on the contrary, objectionable, because itinvolves waste of tame and ener and decreases the durability of the die. eliminating all outward distions. 1

Important advantages resulting from the employment of a hydraulic press as a means for applying compressing pressure to a die are as follows: First, no ad'ustment of the mechanism is required to ies. of different sizes, the presser 24 being adapted to stand at any distance from the diesupport at the commencement of the operation that may be required by the thickness ofthe die secondly, no strain is exerted on the frame of the machine by the compression of the die, because the ressure of the impelling fluid on the head of t e cylinder and on the piston are-balanced, so that there is no tendency of the pressure 'to strain the frame or the connections between the cylinder and the frame, the said pressure being sustained wholly by the cylinder-head which is under compression, due to the pressure of, the impelling fluid in one direction against the cylinder-head and in the opposite direction againstthe piston. There is therefore no liability of a strain on the frame causing derangement of the predetermined relation between the die and the dieforming tool.

The die-support and die-presser constitute members of a die compressing or contracting machine which may be used independently of the formin -tool 15 for pre aring dies for the action of a and-operated 'orming-tool or for a die-forming machine, su ch as that shown in my above-mentioned application. While a hydraulic press is the best means known to me for applying the compressing pressure, I do not limit myself thereto and may use any other means suitable for the purpose.

It will be seen that the parts 16 and 24 constitute opposed pressing members adapted to exert compressive pressure in opposite directions on opposite ends of a die and that placement 0 the metal I obviate these ObJGC- the inclined or tapered cavity 18 constitutes means on one of said members for translating the compressive pressure and directing it radially inward toward the center of the dieorifice. The forming-tool 15 and the mechanism for reciprocating it constitute means operating simultaneously with the said pressing members and within the cavity 18 to en.- large and re-form the die-orifice and properly harden and condense its Wall.

I claim 1. A'machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, comprising compressing means adapted to act on 'theexterior of the die to compress the metal of the die inwardly, toward the dieorifice, and thus contract-the latter, expandpanding means to act simultaneously with the compressing means and within the die, to

enlarge and. re-fprm the die-orifice. I

2. A machine for remaking wire-drawin dies, comprising-compressing means adapts to act on the exterior of the die to compress the metal of the die inwardl toward the dieorifice, and thuscontract t e latter, a reciprocable formin' tool movable within the d1e to enlarge an re-form the die-orifice, and means for operating simultaneously with said pressing means for reciprocating said formlng-too 3. A machine for remaking wire-drawin dies, comprising relatively movable oppose pressing members adapted to exert compressive pressure in opposite directions on opposite ends of a die, one of. sald members. having means for translating or directing the compressive ressure radially inward, toward the center the die-orifice, and means for operatin simultaneously with the said ressing mem ers and within the pressureirecting means, to enlarge and re-form the dieorlfice.

4. A machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, comprising a fixed die-support forme to contract the die-orifice, a press having a movable member opposed to said die-support, a reciprocable forming-tool adapted to act within the die-support to enlarge and reform the die-orifice, and means for causin the simultaneous action of said press an forming-tool. F

5. A machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, comprising a die-support having a tapered die-seat adapted to receive the orificecontaining portion of the die, a member for applying pressure to a die on sa-id support to cause the compression of the said portion by the said seat, a forming-tool adapted to act, within the die-seat to enlarge and re-form the die-orifice, and means for causing the simultaneous action of said arts.

6. In a machine or remaking wire-drawing dies, a die-support -having a tapered dieseat adapted to receive the orifice-containing portion of the die, means for applying pressure to the die, a reciprocable-forming-tool adapted to act within the die-seat, and means for adjusting said support longitudinally of the. forming-tool to determine the size of the die-orifice.

7. In a machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, a die-support having a tapered dieseat formed to contract the die-orifice, a diepresser opposed to the die sup ort and having a central opening, means or decreasing the distance between the presser and the diesupport, and a die-formmg tool extending through the opening in the presser and adapted to act Within the die-contracting means of the die-support, and means for operating the die-forming tool independently of the presser.

8. A machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, comprising a die-support formed to contract the die-orifice, a die-presser opposed to thesupport, a press having a fixed inverted cylinder, and a piston movable outwardly therein, said piston having an extension, a yoke engaged with the said extension and presser, and having a tool-receiving openin and a formingtool movable through the said opening and acting within the die-contracting means of the die-support.

clutch operative, while inward movement of .the piston makes the clutch inoperative.

10. In a machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, a die-forming-tool, a holder for the same, means for reciprocating the holder, and means for positively limiting the dieforming movement of theholder at a predetermined point, to compensate for factors of uncertainty.

. 11. In a machine for remaking wire-draw- .ing dies, a forming toolcarr1er having a shoulder or enlargement, means for recipro eating said carrier, and a rigidly-supported stop or abutment adapted to arrest the dieforrlning movement of the said shoulder and too 12. In a machine for remaking wire-draw ijng dies, a forming-tool carrier having a shoulder or enlargement, means for reciprocating said carrier, an adjustable rigidly-supported stop or abutment adapted to arrestthe outward movement of said shoulder and tool, and means for adjusting said stop.

13; A machine for remaking wire-drawing dies, comprising a fixed die-sup ort having a die-compressing seat, a movab e die-presser opposed to the support, a press including a fixed cylinder having a closed end sustaimn the die-support, and a piston movable in said cylinder, a yoke connecting said piston with the dieresser and extending across the latter, sai yoke having an openin coinciding with the orifice of a die supporte by the diesupport, a lon itudinally-movable 'die-form ing tool movab e in said opening to act on the orifice of the die, and means for reciprocating said tool.

14. diecompressing machine comprising one having a die-compressing seat adapted to two relatively movable opposed members, movable in said openings, and means for: re- 10 ciprocating said tool.

displace the metal of the die Wholly toward In testimony whereof I have aflixed my the die-orifice when the distance between the signature in presence of two witnesses. members is decreased, the said members having openings in alineme'nt with each other b u01u0l\7 and with the said seat, means for decreasing Witnesses: the distance between the members, a longi- C. F. BROWN,

tudinaHy-movable tapered die-forming tool E. BA'ronELnER. 

